Cable splice



March 9 1948 R. N. MowERY 2,437,358

CABLE SLICE Fild nay 5, 1947 z sheets-sheet 1 TOR. wf

INVEN JUE kN /n/ ewN Nw Mld 9, 1.948. R. N. MowERY CABLE SPLICE Filed May 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vinclinati Mms, 194sv UNITED STATES PATENT o ERICE-f:

2.437.351; y CABLE amor. Ralph N. Mowery, Yakima, Wash. Y Application May s, 1947, serial No. '146,130

s claims. (ci. '1u-ss) The present invention -relateato improvements.

in cable splice and more particularly to an im# provement in the connection of multiple-wire cable used for'electrical impulse communication, and also for use in connectinghigh-voltage armored and emergency cables for power transmission.

An object of the invention is to provide ran imu proved splice which will facilitate the rapid laying of cable over long distances in normal service 1 requirements, and the laying of emergency service rubber-covered cable to restore service whenv disasters destroy normal communications.

Y It is anotherobject of the invention to provide in the use of this multiple-wire cable connector blocks that are exactly alike and consist of mutually identical separable half-sections adapted to it together in either endwise position of the connector with respect to the cable to be laid whereby the cable may be laid from either of the two connector ends with assurance that the connectors on either end will fit the connectors of the invention will be more fully described hereinafter and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are denotedby the same reference characters throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken horii zontally through an improved cable splice construction according to the present invention.

Figure l2 is a similar view taken verticallyV through the improved construction.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the two connector members shown partially taped together.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on an veniarged scale. i

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view oi the two members of' the splice construction separated. Referring more particularly to the drawings, III and Il designate the two connector blocks,

preferably of insulating material, the same being diagonally disposed with reference to the axes of the cable or the axis of the splice device. Such blocks are separable, as indicated in Figure 6, and are shouldered or stepped as indicated at I2 and I3 to provide a series of oppositely disposed iiat surfaces l0 and Il, and carry plugs I 4 and complemental sockets or receptacles I4B adapted to electrically inner-lit when the connector blocks are brought together in longitudinal alignment so that their proximate faces abut one another as shown in Figures 2 to 5.

The flat surfaces IB and IIB are disposed between the pairs of'outwardly curved frontend rear walls IIIh and IIb. The outer edges of these walls are spaced apart and extend lengthwise along the blocks in an angular line relative to one another substantially the entire length thereof. Each pair of walls has the outwardly curved connections ||lc and adiacent one end, and these ends of the blocks are shaped to form the circular bearing heads II and I8 for seating the same within the respective ring bases I5 and I6 which support the blocks. The tip ends 20 and I 9 of the blocks extend outwardly and provide an abutment to contact with the narrow free end of the part-circular covers 2| and 22. The blocks are shouldered at Auand 4| to support the covers and permit the same to be held thereto by the l screws 42.

The ring bases |5 and I6 `are preferably made of metal and are provided with openings 21, the axes of' which register and are aligned with the .axis of the splice device. The ring bases are provided with the outwardly projecting arc shaped anges 25 and 26 in which the thickness of the metal is reduced from the exterior. These iianges overlap the wall connecting portions of the bearing heads I'I and |8 and form an abutment to contact the enlarged ends of the part-circular covers 2| and 22 which are held by screws 44 to the outwardly curved wall connectors |0 and |Ic in spaced relation. with the ring bases I5 and I6.

The shoulders 40 and 4| provide narrow seats slightly below the outer tip ends 20 and 2| to connect or merge on a level with one end ofthe outer edges of the respective pairs of spaced apart walls. The circularbearing heads I'I and I8 connect the outer end of the respective pairs oi' spaced apart walls. The narrow ends of the partcircular covers 2| and 22 are readily inserted to abutthe outer tip ends 20 and I9 and fastened to the shoulders 40 and 4| with their Outer i11- clined edges aligned to rest upon the respective l inclined edges .of each pair of spaced walls on the blocks Il! and -I I. The other end of the part-circular cover plates is supported and fastened to the part-circular wall connecting portions adiacent the circular bearing heads I'I and I8. 'I'he blocks I and Il with their covers fastened in this position provide a pairof independent and enclosed housings to give assured 'protection to the plugs I4 along with their complemental sockets housed therein.

The cables 2B and 29 are let in through the openings 27, the insulation having been stripped from the cables in the usual way and the cable strands or wires 30 untwisted into substantially parallel bundles which are divided substantially Y equally to opposite sides of the connector block I0 or II and are held in clampsI or 32. The inand the two units held' together by securing a p horseshoe clamp across the apertures or gaps 25 dividual wires are fastened to the binding posts of the respective plugs I4 and sockets Illa.

As shown in Figure 3, the connector blocks I0 and II complete with covers 2l and 22 when assembled constitute the splice unit and may be secured together by tape 33 preferably; also the unit is enclosed in a casing or housing 3d which may or may not have the end heads 35 threaded or otherwise connected thereto and positioned to compress the washers or gaskets 3E about the y cables where the same enter through the ring .bases I5 and It.

In the use of the device, in Figures 1 and 2 the steel emergency housing 3d is shown in place over the two connector blocks I and II as it would be placed when an emergency rubber-covered line is laid. The tip of the upper block It is preferably exactly the saine as the tip or free end of the lower block II. The measurement of eX- act similarity is made from the center line A-A in Figure 2, which is equidistant from the ring bases I5 and le and ispmade on the transverse median line of the contacting faces of the connector blocks In and Il, Such connector blocks are shown in ve stepped sections comprising four relatively short sections at the ends of the device and a single long section at the central portion of the device although an increase or decrease in the number of steps may be made to facilitate using increasingly larger or smaller numbers of wires. The line A-A divides this central stepped section at its intermediate part. This center line A-A is an important consideration in the working of all connectors and the principle of the connectors.

The steel caps or end heads 35 may be threaded into the housing Bil to exert pressure of the inner portions or lips against rubber or other compressible washers 36, thus serving to temporarily waterproof the connector until regular service may be reinstalled, Thisouter housing 34 is used only for temporary lines that have rubber-covered cables.

The steel bases I5 and IE, as indicated in Figure 3, may contain two screw-driven wedges 3l to hold the weight of the rubber-covered cables.

but the same are not required for lead-covered cables.

The separated wires 3@ from the cables 28 and 29 are .held by the clamps 3l and 32 along the sides of the connector blocks I0 and II up to the face plate in which the plugs for the individual Wires are located. The connections between the Wires 30 and the plugs I4, Illa are serviced by removing the connector block covers 2|, 22. These covers are tapered from end to end as indicated.

When the unit is in service and only one or two wires require servicing, the connector block covers 2i. 22 may be removed for direct servicing and 26 so that positive contact may be assured wliilile the unit is open for inspection and servic g.

The proximate contacting faces of the blocks IIJ and II are in angular step-down sections to locate the faces so that any strain upon the unit will be taken by the body of the unit instead of by the plugs individually. The male plugs Ill may be set in the faces of the tip halves of the connector blocks I@ and II, and the female plugs its may be set in' the faces of the base halves of the connector blocks. Such plugs have their axes perpendicular to the races on which they are set. The male plugs IQ and the female plugs it are set geometrically opposed to each other in exact distance from the center line, and that distance being perpendicular to the center line, as measured on the angular faces, the faces of the blocks are on parallel planes.

A lead housing may of course replace-the steel housing 36. Lead housings may be of the normal service type. The cloth tape 33 may .be wrapped about the unit to secure solid connection while the lead housing is being fixed over the unit. Figure 3 shows two connectors and their covers in true cylindrical form upon connection together.

Figure l shows parts broken away to indicate one of the connector blocks revealed for servicing. 'The separated wires 3@ are shown harnessed to the sides of the blocks by the clamp 3i in order to remove any strain from the plug connections that might otherwise break a connection by the pull on the cable. The plug area is also cleared of excess wires by the retention of the lead-in wires to the sides of the block.

In Figure 6 the two connector blocks I@ and I I and their covers 2i and 22 are shown separated to indicate ther alignment of the faces and the location of the respective male and female plugs It and Il.

The invention improves the emciency over other connector types in a number of particulars. For instance, the connector is more compact and reduces the volume of space required for the same. The use of stepped-down angular faces insures firm connection. The cylindrical shape of the connectors when assembled will permit the connectors to be pulled through conduit or piping where necessary. The connectors may be assembled to the cables at thel factory and quickly and economically checked to insure that both cable and connector function properly before release for use.

Two cables can be quickly connected together when being put into use which results in a saving of time. The cables may also be quickly checked for breaks of one or two wires by removing the outer housing and connector covers and checking the plugs directly. The number of wires 5 right to make changes and modifications in the herein described embodiment of the invention provided such changes fall Within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A cable splice comprising-a pair of connector blocks having wire connecting means with outer walls, circular bearing heads carried by the blocks, covers for the outer walls, and perforated ring bases having internal seats `for mounting the ,bearing heads to carry said blocks and covers.

2. A cable splice as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the blocks are diagonally disposed with reference to the direction of cable axis.

3. A cable splice according to claim 2 wherein the blocks are stepped and shouldered to provide cppositely disposed series of flat surfaces.

4. A cable splice according to claim 2 in which .the tip end portions of the blocks have shouldered surfaces to removably receive the tip ends of the covers.

6 5. A cable splice according to claim 2 in which the covers taper toward the tip ends.

6. A cable splice according to claim 2 in which' the transverse center line of the splice runs through the central part of intermediate contacting faces of the blocks which are approximately twice the length of the other stepped contact faces of the blocks.

7. A cable splice according to claim 2 in which clamps at the sides of the blocks hold the divided cable wires laterally off the faces of the blocks.

8. vA cable splice according to claim 2 in which a tape passes spirally about the blocks to hold' the splice together.

9. A cable splice according to claim 2 in which a tubular housing fits over the splice, with end heads screwed into the housing having apertures for the cable and lips to engage compressible gaskets for compressing-the latter against the ring 20 bases and the cable ends.

RALPH N. MOWERY. 

